In 1960, the year these recordings were made, Hawk was in his mid 50s and still at the height of his creative powers. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he was not out of fashion. Younger musicians did not merely respect him as a great historic figure: their admiration was open and active. They went to hear him play, and they played with him. As a musician and as a man, he seemed unmarked by any generation gap.

When he played, what came out was timeless music in rich, full-bodied phrases. His imagination was as fecund as ever, his control as strong, his hands as sure. On these three albums, made with some of the finest musicians of the swing, bop and mainstream eras including the gilt-edged piano of the late, great Tommy Flanagan, an ever-present on all these sessions - he showed yet again he remained a master able to work well within any framework. And still the boss tenor of jazz.

Tracklisting:

CD 1

01. You Blew Out the Flame in My Heart 02. Im Beginning to See the Light 03. More Bounce to the Vonce 04. Cool Blue 05. Some Stretching 06. Trouble Is a Man 07. While Were Young 08. Then Ill Be Tired of You 09. Poor Butterfly

CD 2

01. For You, for Me, for Evermore 02. At Dawning 03. Ill Get By (As Long As I Have You) 04. Mighty Lak a Rose 05. Pedalin 06. There Is No Greater Love 07. Dont Take Your Love from Me 08. In a Mellow Tone 09. Night Hawk 10. Lover (*) Bonus Track

Sources CD 1:

Tracks #1-5 from the Prestige/Swingville album "Coleman Hawkins All Stars" (SVLP2005)

Tracks #6-9 from the Prestige/Moodsville album "At Ease with Coleman Hawkins" (MVLP7)

Sources CD 2:

Tracks #1-4 from the Prestige/Moodsville album "At Ease with Coleman Hawkins" (MVLP7)